Aunt Cleo sent this article and a nice letter to me last week. She said that I could put it on the website, and I’m very happy to do so. First the article by Juliana Smith:
In April 1942, American industry was retooling and refocusing its energies on war production. The production of civilian automobiles was banned during the war and automotive plants instead turned out jeeps, tanks, and other military vehicles. Women donated their nylon hosiery to make parachutes and tow ropes. Americans were encouraged to salvage metal, rubber, rags, and newspapers for the war effort and sanitation trucks scheduled special collections to retrieve these materials which were in short supply. “Salvage for Victory” depots were also set up.
Food was being rationed and the 27 April 1942 Lima News (Lima, Ohio) noted that, “After a week from tomorrow no hairpin or bobbie pin manufacturer may make these articles longer than two inches.”
New factories were being built, but workers were desperately needed to man them. On 27 April 1942, men who were born on or between 28 April 1877 and 16 February 1897 not already in the military were required to register for a draft–not for military service, but to help the government get a grasp on the industrial manpower capacity of the country. Known as the “Old Man’s Draft,” it was one of seven draft registrations during World War II, and is the only one that is currently available to the public.
The article is from ancestry.com, and you can read the original article on their website. Aunt Cleo goes on to write:
When I read this article it brought back many memories. I would love to hear memories of Mahlon, Vernon, Bea and Margie from this time.
I remember collecting rags to sell. They didn’t have to be clean rags either. As I remember, they could have dirt on them. I didn’t realize that they had nylon hose before the war. I thought they were the result of the parachutes and ropes that were used during the war.
I think Mahlon and I were natural born scavangers. I don’t know why, but we had lots of things to salvage and sell (at least I think we sold them). As I recall we got paid for it anyway. I know we carried a lot of things home that were left at the burned-out house we passed everyday going to and from school.
I don’t think we called it recycling then. I can’t remember how it was referred to. It was just part of the war effort.